Brake arrangement



Nov. 25, 1941. w. H. 'BASELT I BRAKE ARRANGEMENT Filed July 23, 1940 INVENTOR. XV rflficwaii,

Patented Nov. 25, 1941 BRAKE ARRANGEMENT Walter H; Baselt, Chicago, 111., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 23, 1940, Serial No. 346,950

16 Claims.

My invention relates to brake rigging for a railway car truck and more particularly to a novel form of combination lever and hanger structure and its method of application in such brake rigging.

An object of my invention is to devise a'novel form of brake hanger'lever which will be suitable for application to various forms of brake linkage arrangements, and particularly to such arrangements wherein the rigging is of beamless type and wherein levers are supported at opposite sides of each wheel and connected by straps, either above or below the adjacent axle.

My invention com-prehends a hanger lever structure comprising a single lever'of usual form with a trunnion portion intermediate its ends and integrally formed rigid hanger portions at opposite sides of said hanger.

In the commonly used structure of a hanger and lever arrangemen't'the hangers are separate from the lever and may be supported from a separate pivot point. In the structure that I have devised, the hangers and the levers are integrally formed in order to reduce the wear between the parts and to add rigidity to the structure as a whole.

My novel. hanger lever arrangement comprehends, in addition, an arrangement for connecting hanger levers at opposite sides of the truck at points which afford maximum rigidity and support the rigging at the opposite sides of the truck with respect to each other while at the same time avoiding connection between the rigging at opposite sides of the truck at the pivot points of the brake heads which has been a normal practice heretofore but which sometimes causes/extra wear and does not function so satisfactorily as the design herein set forth.

My. invention contemplates a brake hanger lever structure such as that described, suitable for use in connection with a brake head balancing arrangement of well known form, said hanger leverstructure being modified to accommodate said balancing arrangement in manner more particularly set forth hereafter.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevation of a railway car truck and brake structure, embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentaryside elevation of the truck and brake arrangement shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan of the truck and brake arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4. is a side elevation of my novel form of combination brake hanger and lever and. Figure 5 is an end elevation thereof, taken in the plane in which the hanger lever normally swings or pivots.

In each of the figures certain details may be omitted where they are more clearly set forth in other figures or for the sake of clarity and simplicity.

Describing in detail the truck and brake arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3, there is illustrated one corner of a railway car truck of well known form and comprising a frame with a side rail 2, and an end rail 4, merging at the corner of the frame as at 6, where there is also integrally formed the gusset 8, slotted as at l0, l0.

Adjacent the end of the frame the side rail has the usual pedestal 9 defining the pedestal opening ll, affording a means of connection to the wheel and axle assembly l3.-

Atop the gusset 8 are formed reinforcing out-1 board and inboard longitudinal flanges I 2 and I4, parallel for a portion of their lengths, at opposite sides of the inboard slot l0, and the said flanges l2 and M are formed with aligned openings serving as a supporting pivot point as at l6 for my novel form of hanger lever l8, said hanger lever being suspended through the aforementioned inboard slot l0. Intermediate the ends of the hanger lever I8 is formed the trunnion portion 20 (Figure 5) and at opposite sides of said trunnion portion are pivotally connected as at 22 the inboard and outboard parallel straps designated respectively 24 and 26, said straps extending over the axle at opposite sides of the adjacent wheel for connection in usual manner to a lever (not shown) at the opposite side of the wheel. The inboard strap 24 is offset upwardly (Figure 2) to aiford additional clearance from the axle and accommodate a well known roller bearing wheel and axle assembly. Adjacent the lower end of the hanger lever I8 is pivotally connected as at 21, the brake head 28 secured by the threaded bolt assembly 29 and supporting the associated brake shoe 30 for en gagement with the periphery of the adjacent wheel. The brake head 28.has a balancing arrangement 32 of well known form frictionally secured to said head and functioning in the manner described in detail in my Patent No. 1,686,648 issued by the United States Patent Office October 9, 1928. Said balancingarrangement 32 comprises paired housings 33, 33 at each side of the head, secured at the pivot point 21 and enclosing the lower end of the adjacent hanger, said housing affording an enclosure also for the balance spring 34, which has a seat as at 36 (Figure 5) on said hanger. In the arrangement shown, parallel flanges on the rear of the brake head 28 are received and supported within the slots 35, 35, formed between the hangers 38 and 40 at opposite sides of the hanger lever l8. The main stem or lever of the hanger lever 18 is extended as at 42 below the brake head supporting pivot 26 and affords a connection as at 44 for the tie rod or strap 45 which may be similarly connected at the opposite sideof the truck and serve to stabilize the hangers.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown my novel form of hanger lever generally designated l8. As already indicated, said hanger lever is a rigid structure comprising the central stem or lever 48 with the pivot opening it at its upper end and the trunnion portion intermediate its ends at the opposite sides of which may be connected the straps already referred to. At opposite sides of the main lever 48 and below the trunnion portion 20 are formed the rigid outboard and inboard legs or hangers, designated respectively 38 and 40 and at intermediate points thereon are formed the pads 35, 36 affording seats for the balance springs already referred to. Between the hangers 38 and 40 and the main lever 48 are formed the slots 35, for reception of the supporting flanges of the brake head and the juncture of the legs 33 and with the main stem or lever 48 and the trunnion portion 20 are reinforced by the web 0 portions 50 and 52 (Figure 5). At the lower ends of the hangers 38 and 40 are formed the lever brake head pivot openings 21, 21 in alignment with a similar opening'formed at 54 in the main stem 48. is extended below the pivot point 21 to form the leg 42, said leg aiiording a connection as at 44 for a tie rod as already described.

It will thus be seen that in my novel arrangementI have provided a structure wherein there is formed, as one integral member, a hanger lever structure comprising a main stem or lever, a central trunnion portion and rigid hanger members parallel with said main stem and at opposite sides thereof. Below said trunnion portion said main stem and said hanger portions are formed with aligned brake head pivot openings, and said main stem is further extended below said hangers to afford a connection for a tie rod. In such a structure the associated hangers and the tie rod connection are all rigid with respect to each other. Moreover, the connection of the tie rod is independent of the connection of the brake head, thus eliminating diificulties commonly encountered where said connections are at one pivot'point. In addition, by connecting the tie rod below the brake head pivot point the said connection is spaced furthest from the point of support of the hanger lever at the oppo- Said main stem or lever 48 extending over the adjacent axle, hangers integrally formed with said trunnion portion and extending therebelow in parallel relation with said main stem, aligned brake openings in said main stem and said hangers, a brake head pivotally supported at said aligned openings and supporting a brake shoe for braking engagement with the periphery of the adjacent Wheel, said main stem being extended below said aligned openings for connection to a tie strap, and brake head balancing means pivotally connected at said aligned openings and comprising inboard and outboard balance springs seated on said respective hangers.

2. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a frame member, a supporting wheel and axle assembly, and brake means comprising a combination hanger lever structure including a main stem pivotally hung from said frame member, a trunnion portion, straps connected at opposite sides of said trunnion portion and extending over said axle, hangers integrally formed with said trunnion and extending in parallel relation therebelow, aligned brake head pivot openings in said main stem and said hangers, a brake head supported therefrom, and a brake shoe mounted on said head for engagement with the periphery of the adjacent wheel, said main stem extending below said brake head pivot in a leg affording a tie strap connection at the end of said hanger lever structure remote from its point of support.

3. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a frame member, a supporting wheel and axl assembly, and brake means comprising a combination hanger lever structure including a main stem pivotally hung from said frame memher and a trunnion portion, straps connected at opposite sides of said trunnion portion and extending over said axle, hangers integrally formed with said trunnion and extending in parallel relation therebelow, aligned brake head pivot openings in said stem and hangers, a brake head supported therefrom, a brake shoe mounted on said head for engagement with periphery of the adjacent wheel, brake head balance means connected at said brake head pivot and comprising inboard and outboard arms with associated springs seated on said inboard and outboard hangers respectively, said main stem extending below said hanger for connection to an associated brake member.

4. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly, brake structur comprising a hanger site end of the structure, and additional rigidity is secured by that means.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly, brake structure comprising a hanger lever with a main stem hung at its upper end from said frame, said hanger lever having a trunnion portion intermediate its ends, straps connected at opposite sides of said trunnion portion and lever with a main stem hung at its upper end from said frame, said hanger lever having a trunnion portion intermediate its ends, straps connected at opposite sides of said trunnion portion and extending over the adjacent axle, hangers integrally formed with said trunnion portion and extending therebelow in parallel relation with said main stem, aligned brake openings in said main stem and said hangers, and a brake head pivotally supported at said aligned openings and supporting a brake shoe for braking engagement with the periphery of the adjacent wheel, said main stem being extended below said aligned openings for connection to a tie strap.

5. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a frame, a supporting wheel and axle assembly, and brake structure comprising a hanger lever with a main stem hung at its upper end from said frame, said-hanger lever having a trunnion portion intermediate its ends,v straps connected at opposite sides of said trunnion portion and extending over the adjacent axle, hangers integrally formed with said trunnion portion and extending therebelow in parallel relation with said main stem, aligned brake openings in said main stem and said hangers, a brake head pivotally supported from said aligned openings and supporting a brake shoe for braking engagement with the periphery of the adjacent wheel, and stabilizing means connected to said main stem.

6. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a frame member, a supporting wheel and axle assembly, and brake means comprising a combination hanger lever structure including a main stem pivotally hung from said frame member, a trunnion portion, straps connected at opposite sides of said trunnion portion and extending over said axle, hangers integrally formed with said trunnion and extending in parallel relation therebelow, aligned brake head pivot openings in said main stem and said hangers, a brake head supported therefrom, a brake shoe mounted on said head for engagement with the periphery of the adjacent wheel, and stabilizing means connected to the lower end of said main stem.

'7. In a combination brake lever and hanger structure, a central lever having a pivot opening at its upper end, trunnion means integrally formed thereon intermediate its ends, hangers extending downward from said trunnion means in parallel relationship with said main lever, aligned brake head pivot openings in said main lever and said hangers, and a leg on said main lever extending below said brake head pivot to form a tie strap connection,

8. In a brake lever structure, a main lever, a pivot opening at the upper end thereof, trunnion means intermediate the ends thereof, parallel hangers formed at opposite sides of said main lever below said trunnion means, and aligned brake head pivot openings in said main lever and said hangers, said main lever being extended below said brake head pivot openings'to form a tie strap connection.

9. In a combination brake lever and hanger structure, a central lever having a pivot opening at its upper end, trunnion means integrally at opposite sides of said structure, said main stem extending below saidhangers for connection to associated stabilizing means.

11. In a brake lever structure, a main lever, a pivot opening at the upper end thereof, trunnion means intermediate the ends thereof, parallel hangers formed at opposite sides of said main lever belowsaid trunnion means, aligned brake head pivot openings in said main lever and said hangers, said main lever having a bottom extension for connection to a tie rod.

12. In a brake lever structure, a main lever, a pivot opening at the upper end thereof, trunnion means intermediate the ends thereof, parallel hangers formed at opposite sides of said main lever below said trunnion means, aligned brake head pivot openings in said main lever and at the bottom of said hangers, spring seats formed on said hangers intermediate the ends thereof, said main lever extending below said pivot openings for connection to stabilizing means.

13. In a combination brake lever and hanger structure, a central lever having a pivot opening at its upper end, trunnion means integrally formed thereon intermediate its ends, hangers extending downward from said truzmion means in parallel relationship with said main lever, transverse webs integrally formed between said hangers and said main lever beneath said trunnion means, said trunnion means extending laterally of said hangers for connection at its opposite ends with associated tie straps, and aligned brake head pivot openings in said main lever and said hangers. 7

14. A combination brake hanger lever structure comprising a main stem, trunnion means integrally formed therewith, parallel hangers extending below said trunnion means on opposite sides of said main stem, transverse webs formed between said hangers and said main stem beneath said trunnion means, aligned brake head pivot openings in said hanger and said main stem, and spring seats formed on said hangers.

15. A combination brake hanger lever structure comprisinga main stem, trunnion means integrally formed thereon, parallel hangers extending below said trunnion means on opposite sides of said main stem, transverse webs formed between said hangers and said main stem beneath said trunnion means, and aligned brake head pivot openings insaid hanger and said main stem.

16. In a hanger lever structure, a main stem having a pivot opening at its upper end, a trunnion integrally formed therewith at an intermediate point, hangers integrally joining said trunnion on opposite sides of said main stem and ex-,

tending below said trunnion in parallel relationship with said main stem, aligned pivot openings in said hangers and said main stem, and integral transverse webs between said main stem and said hangers merging with said trunnion at opposite sides of said main stem, said main stem extending below said last-mentioned pivot openings for connection to stabilizing means and said trunnion extending laterall of said hangers for connection to associated Wheel straps.

WALTER I-I. BASELT. 

